Stanmore Common Nature Trail
Short trail post 10: The open area ahead and to the right is Bluebell Heath. Although one of the largest open areas on the Common, it had by 2010 been almost completely overgrown by scrub and young woodland, and we were in danger of losing all the plants of open grassland and heath together with the butterflies and other invertebrates that depend on them. In the winter of 2012-2013 much of the young trees and scrub were removed in a project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The ground cover was allowed to regenerate naturally. Now the clearing is far more open yet still full of life.

Walk up the hill to post 1 of the return trail. The tall plants on the left are marsh thistle Cirsium palustre, an indicator of mildly acidic soils with moderate fertility. All thistles are important plants for invertebrates but thistles are also highly invasive and do need to be controlled on the Common. As its name suggests, marsh thistles like damp soils. They can be distinguished from other thistles by the winged spines that run all the way up the stem.


Image: Marsh thistles at post 10 by Steve Bolsover
To description for return trail post 1

More on some of the birds you are likely to see or hear on the Common

More on the three species of deer on the Common and their tracks

Click here to learn more about the Harrow Nature Conservation Forum including guided walks and conservation workdays.